Trust Your Intuition!

It is often kinder simply to not respond to someone who you immediately know isn't your type, than to cultivate an online relationship out of politeness and later let them down.  If your online correspondent doesn't answer questions directly, or omits essential information, trust your better instincts and find someone you can trust. If you suspect someone is lying to you, you are probably correct. Don't waste time trying to elicit the truth from them. Accept that they are dishonest, and not likely to change.  Drop correspondence with those who do not accept or question your feelings. Relationships are built on honesty, respect and acceptance. Settle for nothing less!

Trouble-shooting

Do not reply to mean-spirited and nasty e-mail. With luck, ignoring the sender will send them and their desperate attempts for attention elsewhere. If not, save their e-mails and forward them to your ISP or their ISP and ask them for help to get the person to cease and desist. If you've released no identifying information about yourself to this person, use a mail filter to send their trash, to the trash.

Get References before Meeting Off-line

Ask for references from your friend's work, friends and family. Honest people will have no objection to this request, and will appreciate that you are 'playing it smart and safe'. Verify their place of employment. For example, if they tell you they are an internationally published author, ask for titles and publishers and confirm their assertion.  If you are unable to verify any details about your online buddy, trust your better judgement and move on.

Background Checks - Before sharing intimate information with anyone on-line, confirm that the person you are dealing with, is the person they say they are. There are services available for checking backgrounds, please use them! Trust me, it is a disappointing shock to learn that your on-line love is living abroad because he is 'wanted' by the authorities.  

Checkmate1.com -  Checkmate advertises as being the first Internet Background Resource designed especially for dating singles. CheckMate empowers you with the background resources needed to check the credibility of someone you have just met. 

Background Checks